Thimble



G. F. LENK ept 29. 1923 Patented July 8, 1924.

GUS F. LENK, 013 DALLAS, TEXAS.

THI1VIIBLE.

Application filed Septdmber 29, 1923. Seria1 N0. 665,615.

T0 all 107mm 7It may 00110e7m:

Be it known that I, GUS F. LENK, 21 citizen of the Unitecl States of America, residlng at Dallas, in the county 01 Dallas und Stzite of Texas, l1aveinventecl certain neW ancl useful In1proven1ents in Thin1hles, of which the following is 21 specificacion.

T1115 invention relates 10 new ancluseful in1proven1ents in tl1in1loles f01' funiace charging holes.

' In furnaces, such es ineineratorswhieh are chargecl f101n the top, a hole is m:acle in t-he roof of the combustion chamber ancl 21 hopper lining used in th1s hole. The heat arouncl the lower encl of the hole is intense und it is necessary to use fire resisting m21- terial, such as fire clay in forming the r001": cf the combustion cl1amloer. This 1"001 l1as its under sicle curvecl longitudinally anal transversely ancl there'fore a tl1imlole at the lower end of the hole set into tl1e roof has proved tl1e m0st practical construction.

Such thimbles have been inacle and usecl but certain clefects are present in those now in use. Where ehe sections o1 blocks forming tl1e tl1imble are large ip is clilficult to thoroughly burn the ame through y ancl through, in the c uring process anal such blocks crumble ancl disintegrate 111 use. Further tl1e thimble is subjecue'cl to 21 heavy downwarcl pressure as well as extreme expansioi1 anal Contraction and sections unless aclequately l1elcl Will fall out a11cl wreck the tl1imble.

The object cf n1y invention is 130 provide a tl1i1nble ;E0rn1ecl of a plurality of radial blocks 01 sections of fi1e clay or equivalent material arranged 130 interfit witl1 tl1e loricks 01 blocks 01 which the roof is built.

A particular object of the inVention is 130 provide saicl blocks with interlocking projec-. tions and sockets 01 se ats tl1erefor, whereby the sections 01": the thimble can not become displacecl uncler a load, sag or separate.

A further object is to provide sections having tl1eir sides radiating from two centers s1'1bstant-ially 2113 right angles to each other, whereloy the central opening is formecl and the sections a1e sustained against down- Ward pressure.

Another object is to form the thinilole of a pluralit-y cf interlocking blocks of such size that each may be thoroughly burned in the kiln so as to stand up 111 the combustion cha'mber.

A still further object is 130 provide :ample ing beyoncl the square on eacl1 side.

clearance between the lower encl of the cha1ging hopper ancl tl1e opening of the tl1imble t0 con1pensate expansion and comtraction of tl1e con1porient; parts ancl preventing clisto1tion of the con1bustlon chember arcl1 clue to contz1ct between the tl1imble ancl hopper.

A construction clesigned to carry oult he invention W1ll be hereinafter clescrlbecl togther with other features of tl1e inventi0n. The invention Will be more reaclily uncler stoocl from 21 reacling of the followlng Specification ancl loy reference to tl1e accom panying clrawings, in wl1icl1 an eXamPle of the invention is shown, an(l whereln:

Flg. 1 is 21 sectionil view of a Portion of the combustion cl1amber 1'001 ancl the cl1arg- 111g hole, together with 21 tl1imble constructed in accordance With my invention,

.Fig. 2 is 21 plan view of 21 thin1ble embracing tl1e invention,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken 011 tl1e llne 33 01? Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is 21 cross-sectional vieW haken 011 the line 4:1 of Fig. 2, und

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view haken 111 li11e 55 of Fig. 2.

In the clmwings the nun1eral 10 clesignates 21 charglng hole hopper in the ro0f of 21 furnace combustion chan1loe1. Sur1ouncling the lower encl of tl1e hopper ancl built int0 tl1e roof is 21 thimble 11.

The thimlole is composed 0f a plurality o1 Taclial sections 01" blocks12 ancl 13 respectively forn1ecl cf fire clay o1 othef Slllfi* able matefial. Each blockhasa tongue 14 along one sicle ancl 21 g1oove 15 along tl1e other sicle, laut may have any other male a11cl female interlocking n1eans. The inner face 16 of euch block is curvecl so thao the central opening Will be fo1mecl when tl1e blocks are assemblecl.

The loloclzs a1e sn1all enough to be thoroughly burned in the kiln. The blocks 12 are formed to give 21 substantially square thimble when assemblecl; while the keyblock 13 011 eacl1 side provicle lugs project- The tongues and grooves 011 the blocks 12 extend fron1 the faces 16 to the outer eclges thereof 21ncl this is true of the contacting sides cf tl1e blocks 13. However the exposecl sicles cf the blocks 13 forming the lugs do not require tongues and grooves and from these, they may be omitteol.

The upper faces 17 of the blocks are flat and a1e all assembled in the same horizontal plane. The under faoes 12 and 13, respectively, are curvecl to conform to the right anglecl curvatures of the roof of the com bustion chamber so that the uncler surir'ace of said thimble Will conform exaotly thereto. The thimble is built into the roof ancl the lugs provicle shoulders against whioh the fire bricks 18 of the roof may be set to fo1m proper joints ancl a continuous surface.

It will loe seen that the blocks are not only radial on a horizontal clireotion, lout also in a vertical direotion, their sicles extending radially fro1n a point below the thi1nble when it is placecl in the 1oof. This feature coupled with the tongues ancl grooves makes a strncture which resists all downwarcl pressure ancl whioh re1nains intaot under all the trying conclihions to which it may be subjected. It Will loe Seen that eaoh block is shaped to co-operate with the others ancl to sustain its particular loacl.

The thimlole surrounding the lower encl of the hopper 10 Will protectthe same ancl Wlll also reinforce the lower end of the oharging hole. The blocks Will not break loose, crack, sag o1 separate and an eflleient and lasting structure Will loe proclucecl.

An important aclvantage of the invention is the elearance providecl between the lowe1 end of the h0pper 10 ancl the central opening of the t-himble. It is obvious that i:f these parts were to cont-aet, the hopper W0ulcl be displaced upwarcl or the thimble would be wedged arouncl the hopper, under extreme expansion, whereby the thimble ancl aroh woulcl loe injurecl. By provicling this elearance the thimble ancl arch n1ay rise and fall without contacting with the hopper 01 disintegrating.

What I claim, is:

1. A furnace oharging hole thimble comprising a plurality of blocks surrounding a central opening and having their coritacting sides flared outwardly and radiating upwarclly, whereloy the bloeks aie assembled to resist a clownward pressure.

2. A furnace charging hole thimble inolucling a plurality of blocks surrouncling a central oharging opening and flaring outwa1:clly, ancl male and female interlocking prqections 011 the contaoting sicles of the 'lolocks, f0r supporting the blocks against vertical clisplacement.

3. A furnace oharging hole thimble inoluding a plurality of blooks surrounclihg a central opening ancl flaring outwarclly,

ancl male ancl female interlooking projections 011 the oontacting sicles of ehe blocks, saicl blocks also having their contacting sicles radiating upwardly.

4. A furnace charging hole thimble inolucling a plurality of blocks surrounding a central opening and flaring outwarcllyancl raclially extending fongue and groove joints betvveen the oontaoting sicles of ehe blooks, the. under snrfaoes of the bloeks being curvecl to conform to the curvatures of the roof v016 a 'oombustion oharnber.

5. A furnaoe charging hole thimble including a plurality of blooks surrourioling a central opening and fiaring outwarclly, ancl tongu'e ancl groO-ve joints between the oontaoting sicles of the blocks, the under surfaces of the blooks being ourvecl to confor1n to the eurvatures of the roof of a combustion ohamber, the blooks having their oontaoting faceS radiating upwardly. v 6. In a furnaee st1"ucture the oombination with the roof of a oombustion Chamber havirig a oharging hole therein, and a metal hopper depencling in saicl hole, of a thimble Composecl of radiating'interlocking blocks surrounding the loWer end of the h0pper and set into the roof there being ample clearance betweaen thehopper and the thimble t0 constitute anexpansion joint.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

' GUS F. LENK. 

